World IN BRIEF : MEXICO : Tardy Zapatistas Delay Peace Talks

New peace talks between government envoys and Zapatista rebels in the southern state of Chiapas were called off until today after rebel leaders arrived almost 10 hours late for the first session. The rebel delegation, escorted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, arrived in the mountain village of San Andres Larrainzar on Tuesday evening for talks that had been due to begin at 10 a.m., witnesses said. There was no explanation for the delay. The talks are expected to produce the first formal accord since the rebels rose up in arms two years ago. Increased Indian rights was a main goal of the Zapatistas’ January 1994 uprising. About 145 people died in the first days of fighting; a cease-fire since then has mostly held.